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Does this mean that there will be less testing this year?
Not at the moment.  Although these are encouraging signs it is still too soon to say that this trend will continue.  It is therefore very important that the good work and cooperation continues.

Have the new control measures made any difference?
It is still much too early to say definitively what impact the new measures, introduced towards the end of 2004, have made on the level of disease but there has been a marked improvement in the number of TB herd tests being completed on or before their due date.  For example in November 2003 there were 131 TB annual herd tests completed on or before their due date.  In November 2004 this figure had risen to 718.

The less the delay in completing testing the earlier infected animals are detected and therefore the opportunity for spread of disease is reduced.

What can I do to reduce the risk of having reactors in my herd?
There are a number of actions that can be taken, depending on your particular circumstances.  The key points are to test on time, avoid contact with neighbouring cattle, check out any source you are buying from and fence off badger setts.  If you require further advice refer to the DARD Biosecurity booklet or contact your local Divisional Veterinary Office.  Details of both can be found on the DARD web site www.dardni.gov.uk.

The Brucellosis Situation

Have the new control measures had an impact on disease levels?
As with TB it is too early to say because compulsory Brucellosis Pre Movement Testing only started in December.  Since then almost 12,000 animals have been tested before moving with 2 reactors and 45 inconclusive animals being identified.  The discovery of these animals, before they moved, is obviously a positive factor in reducing spread of disease and has prevented considerable inconvenience for the purchasers of these animals.

Are all animals being pre movement tested?
Approximately 90% of the animals that should have been tested prior to movement were sampled as required.  To move eligible animals without a test is an offence and may cause inconvenience and expense to the buyer. To do so also increases the risk of infected animals being moved onto their farms.

It is essential that sellers and buyers of females and bulls over 12 months of age ensure that such animals have a clear Brucellosis test on a sample taken within the 30 days prior to movement.

Is reporting abortions still important?
Abortions are quite often the first indication of infection in a herd and it is not uncommon for infection to be confirmed as a result of blood sampling a cow that has aborted.  Spread of infection is most likely when an infected animal calves or aborts.

It is therefore vital that all bovine abortions are reported to Veterinary Service, in fact there is a legal obligation to do so.  The new Brucellosis legislation defines an abortion as "any bovine foetus or calf born dead or which dies within 24 hours of birth".  It is worded in this way to include weak calves that die soon after birth as this may be as a result of Brucellosis infection.

Are there any further measures to be introduced?
Yes, there are plans to treat the slurry on infected farms with thick lime milk which will to neutralise the Brucella organism before the slurry is spread on pasture and also to introduce controls in areas where high levels of Brucellosis exist.  These measures are currently in the process of being implemented.  Inevitably there will always be new initiatives in the pipeline for both TB and Brucellosis as efforts are increased to reduce the levels of both diseases.  There will be publicity in advance of the introduction of any new measures that will have a significant impact on anyone involved in the TB and Brucellosis Schemes.

For more information please contact you local Divisional Veterinary Office or visit the DARD web site on http://www.dardni.gov.uk/